Bundles of rank 3 on curves of Clifford index 3 (Q2437230)

Let \(C\) be a smooth complex curve of genus \(g\geq 4\). The Clifford index \(\mathrm{Cliff}(C)\) is the minimal integer \(\deg (L) -2h^0(L)+2\) with \(L\) a line bundle on \(C\) with \(h^0(L) \geq 2\). For each \(n>1\) the \(n\)-Clifford index \(\mathrm{Cliff} _n(C)\) of \(C\) is the minimal integer \((\deg (E) -2(h^0(E)-n))/n\), where \(E\) is a semistable, \(rk (E)=n\), \(h^0(E)\geq 2n\) and \(\deg (E)/n \leq g-1\) [\textit{H. Lange} and \textit{P. E. Newstead}, in: Affine flag manifolds and principal bundles. Basel: Birkhäuser. 165--202 (2010; Zbl 1227.14038)]. \textit{V. Mercat} [Int. J. Math. 13, 785--796 (2002; Zbl 1068.14039)] conjectured that \(\mathrm{Cliff(C)} \leq \mathrm{Cliff} _n(C)\), but counterexamples where constructed \textit{G. Farkas} and \textit{A. Ortega} [Pure Appl. Math. Q. 7, No. 4, 1265--1295 (2011; Zbl 1316.14059); Int. J. Math. 23, No. 7, Article ID 1250075, 18 p. (2012; Zbl 1256.14032)], and by the authors in several papers (also later than the one under review, even if \(n=3\) and \(\mathrm{Cliff} (C) >3\)). This paper is a continuation of [\textit{H. Lange} and \textit{P. E. Newstead}, Kyoto J. Math. 53, No. 1, 25--54 (2013; Zbl 1307.14052)]. They prove that if \(\mathrm{Cliff} (C)=3\), then \(\mathrm{Cliff} _3(C) \geq 3\) if either \(g\leq 8\) or \(g\geq 13\). They ask several questions on the existence of \(E\) semistable with \((\deg (E) -2(h^0(E)-3))/3 =3\).